All kids act out. It is normal. All kids are defiant, want to make their own decisions and get angry with their parents. It is even a necessary and healthy part of child development. But it is tough on parents. It is hard to be on the receiving end of a child’s negativity and anger. It…... READ MORE
Screens are all around us. We depend on them. We enjoy them. Therefore the set of limits and guidelines from American Academy of Pediatrics can be hard for parents to follow. Those recommendations are “For children younger than 18 months, avoid use of screen media other than video-chatting. Parents of children 18 to 24 months…... READ MORE
Donovan’s lyrics capture the spirit of Reflective Parenting: To have a strong relationship with your child use your mind to understand their mind. For those of you who feel you need a little review of what Reflective Parenting is all about, I have boiled it down to it’s 6 main ingredients. Be Present: When interacting…... READ MORE
There is much talk in the news how screen time before bed interferes with sleep. Adults are having sleep problems and so are kids. Parents are encouraged to keep the bedroom sacrosanct- meaning no electronics in the bedroom. That is a good idea. But it does not go far enough, because even during the day kids…... READ MORE
We have become a society of heavy duty self-improvement. In the process we have lost sight of the value of just being yourself. As part of this trend parents are increasingly being told what to do and what not to do in order to become better parents. Be consistent. Be a united front. Be involved. Be calm.…... READ MORE
As a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, I have been in private practice for over 35 years, with a special interest in parents and couples.